Millions of pounds will be spent in the next six months to tackle the problem of waiting times at hospitals in Leicester, a hospital manager says.

The chief executive of Leicester's hospital trust says the hospitals will be spending �5m from the local health authority to open new wards.

The announcement comes as a report into the hospital trust published by the Commission for Health Improvement highlighted problems with waiting times.

Red alerts in January at the Leicester Royal Infirmary resulted in waiting times of 12 hours in hospital's emergency department.

Shop window

But Peter Reading, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust chief executive, said the situation is already improving.

"A&E is the shop window of any hospital, but you must remember that only two patients had to wait 12 hours during the red alert - that is only two out of 200,000 patients that we treat every year."

He said the hospital is working hard to improve the situation: "We are aiming to treat 90% of patients in less than fours hours."

The hospital opened a new ward a few weeks ago to help with the bed shortage, he said.

The new 15 to 18-bed ward was built with �500,000 from an emergency grant.

The hospital has also set up a minor injuries service and a new consultant team in the past few months, he added.

Commission spokeswoman Rebecca Grey said: "The trust is committed to patient care, but there is room for improvement, especially in emergency.

"The problem is lack of beds, so patients are being placed in inappropriate wards to free up beds for A&E."